Low-profile power and data contacts

• US 10,153,577 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wagman, Daniel C., Ross, Oliver C., Jol, Eric S., Esmaeili, Hani
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US15/948,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20180226739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 439 761, 439 67, 2003022, 2003021
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/77 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/22 Contacts for co-operating by abutting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/40 Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert

Abstract

Contact structures that are readily manufactured, where contacts in the contact structures consume a minimal amount of surface area, depth, and volume in an electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a device enclosure substantially housing the electronic device and having a plurality of openings;

a plurality of electrical contacts, each located in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the device enclosure such that a gap exists between an outside edge of each contact and an inside edge of the corresponding opening in device enclosure, and each having a contacting surface for mating with a contact on a corresponding device when the electronic device and corresponding device are mated; and

a plurality of insulating rings, each filling the gap between the outside edge of an electrical contact and the inside edge of the corresponding opening in the device enclosure.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts are soldered to a flexible circuit board.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 further comprising a bracket behind the electrical contacts such that the plurality of electrical contacts are between the bracket and the device enclosure.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the contacting surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is at least substantially flush with an outside surface of the device enclosure.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the contacting surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is curved and is at least substantially flush with an outside surface of the device enclosure.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of insulating rings are formed as part of a separate insulating housing.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein all of the plurality of insulating rings are formed as part of a single insulating housing.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a device enclosure substantially housing the electronic device and having a plurality of openings;

a plurality of electrical contacts, each located in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the device enclosure, each having a contacting surface for mating with a contact on a corresponding device when the electronic device and corresponding device are mated; and

a plurality of insulating rings, each ring between a contact and the device enclosure, where for each insulating ring, a contact is located inside and adjacent to an inside edge of the insulating ring and the device enclosure is adjacent to an outside edge of the insulating ring.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 further comprising a bracket behind the plurality of electrical contacts such that the plurality of electrical contacts are between the bracket and the device enclosure.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 wherein an insulating ring is formed as a portion of an insulating housing, and further comprising a silicone gasket between the insulating housing and the device enclosure.

11. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the contacting surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is at least substantially flush with an outside surface of the device enclosure.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 wherein the contacting surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is curved and is at least substantially flush with an outside surface of the device enclosure.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a device enclosure substantially housing the electronic device and having a plurality of openings;

a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact having a contacting surface on a first side and a contacting portion on a second side opposing the first side, each contacting surface for mating with a contact on a corresponding device when the electronic device and corresponding device are mated and each electrical contact located in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the device enclosure; and

a plurality of insulating rings, each around an outside of a corresponding one the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein for each of the plurality of electrical contacts, the electrical contact, corresponding insulating ring, and device enclosure are contiguous.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the insulating rings are formed with an insulating housing, wherein the insulating housing is formed of plastic.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 further comprising a seal between the insulating housing and the device enclosure, wherein the seal is a gasket.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 further comprising a flexible circuit board attached to contacting portions of each of the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the flexible circuit board is attached to the insulating housing using a heat-activated film.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 further comprising a bracket, wherein the bracket is behind the insulating housing such that the plurality of electrical contacts are between the bracket and the device enclosure.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 further comprising a shim between the insulating housing and the device enclosure.

19. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the contacting surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is at least substantially flush with an outside surface of the device enclosure.

20. The electronic device of claim 13 wherein the contacting surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is curved and is at least substantially flush with an outside surface of the device enclosure.